Hebrew Names and Name Authority in Library Catalogs by Daniel D. Stuhlman BHL, BA, MS LS, MHL In support of the Doctor of Hebrew Literature degree Jewish University of America Skokie, IL 2004 Page 1Abstract Hebrew Names and Name Authority in Library Catalogs By Daniel D. Stuhlman, BA, BHL, MS LS, MHL Because of the differences in alphabets, entering Hebrew names and words in English works has always been a challenge. The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) is the source for many names both in American, Jewish and European society. This work examines given names, starting with theophoric names in the Bible, then continues with other names from the Bible and contemporary sources. The list of theophoric names is comprehensive. The other names are chosen from library catalogs and the personal records of the author. Hebrew names present challenges because of the variety of pronunciations. The same name is transliterated differently for a writer in Yiddish and Hebrew, but Yiddish names are not covered in this document. Family names are included only as they relate to the study of given names. One chapter deals with why Jacob and Joseph start with J. Transliteration tables from many sources are included for comparison purposes. Because parents may give any name they desire, there can be no absolute rules for using Hebrew names in English (or Latin character) library catalogs. When the cataloger can not find the Latin letter version of a name that the author prefers, the cataloger uses the rules for systematic Romanization. Through the use of rules and the understanding of the history of orthography, a library research can find the materials needed. Advisor: Rabbi Dr. Harvey Well. Entire contents copyright 2004 by Daniel D. Stuhlman, Chicago, IL. Scholarship is a long and difficult course and does have a cost. If you found this useful I would appreciate a token of your appreciation for the work involved. You may send a donation in my name to Congregation Kehilath Jacob Beth Samuel, 3701 West Devon, Chicago, IL 60659 or directly to me at 6617 N Mozart, Chicago, IL 60645. Suggested donation is $20. Thank you. Cataloging Stuhlman, Daniel D. Hebrew names and name authority in library catalogs[electronic resource], by Daniel D. Stuhlman. 91 p. 1. Names, Personal -- Hebrew. 2. Names in the Bible. 3. Cataloging. CS3010 S67 2004 ISBN: 0-934402-28-0 File last revised: November 13, 2004. Page 2Table of contents Acknowledgements 4 Forward 5 Introduction 6 Chapter 1 Names and their Importance 7 Origins of Hebrew 7 Power of Names 8 Linguistic Proofs 8 Chapter 2 Hebrew names in the Tanakh 10 Names for God 10 YHVH 10 Elohim 12 Classification of Personal names 14 Table 1: Names that end in or 14 Table 2: Names that end in 19 Table 3: Names Prefixed with 20 Table 4: Chapter 3 Post Biblical and Contemporary Hebrew names 42 Names from Aramaic 42 Chapter 4 Family names Chapter 5 What is name authority? Name authority Reasons to need name authority Chapter 6 Transliteration and transcription for Hebrew Chapter 7 Examples of names in catalogs Chapter 8 Conclusions Bibliography Appendix 1 Early Phoenician and Samaritan Alphabet Chart Appendix 2 Rules for transliteration and name entry Anglo-American Rules revision 2 rules for Hebrew names (pre-1978) Encyclopedia Judaica rules Index Notice: This dissertation includes the name of God in English and Hebrew letters and two or more letters from the Hebrew name. This document should be treated with the respect due any holy document containing Shamot (). page 3 Acknowledgements Over the course of my life many teachers have shaped my thought processes. There are too many people who helped me to list here all by name. They range from relatives, friends, teachers, colleagues, authors of the books and articles I read, students, and casual acquaintances. Some people helped me understand diverse points of view. Some people supported my ideas and others never understood one academic idea or theory I told them. One person just had a knack of giving me words of encouragement when I needed them the most. I have many friends and acquaintances who are very bright and understand many areas of knowledge. They helped me clarify ideas and think more clearly. I want to thank my friends who have shaped my ability to approach the academic and Jewish worlds and the tanakh. As an undergraduate I learned how to do research in Tanakh from Dr. Yohanan Muffs, though I have not had any contact with him since graduation years, the lessons learned have always remained with me. More recently, I learned new viewpoints from Dr. Shlomo Chaim Resnicoff and Rabbi Ari Small, my study partners for many years, who opened my eyes to academic issues in the fields of American law, Jewish law and ethics, and Jewish medical ethics. Thanks to Stuart Berger who encouraged me to pursue this project after letting sit untouched for many years. Every Shabbat he prodded me to think, act, and make sure this project was finished. He taught me that little steps are important; no day should pass without working a little on the project. Thanks to Rabbi Menachem Rosenfield, now of Fair Lawn, NJ, the former rabbi of Kehilath Jacob Beth Samuel of Chicago and former executive director of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, who first encouraged me to write a monthly column on libraries and Jewish book related topics. Thanks to the current Chicago Rabbinical Council executive director and friend of more than 30 years, Rabbi Dr. Joseph S. Ozarowski, who encourages me to think, write, and study and then pushed me to write this dissertation. Rabbi Moses Mescheloff, rabbi emeritus of Congregation KINS, was always there to discuss scholarly topics and help me focus my ideas. He listened to most of my ideas for my monthly column before I wrote them wrote them down. I also thank all my friends, acquaintances, and colleagues who acted as my cheerleaders, critics, and good listeners. I thank my students who have shown me that I know a lot more than most and that I know very little compared to what needs to be learned. I thank my children, Asher and Adina, for teaching me that parenting is the hardest and most rewarding job in the world. Forward For over 30 years I let the dream of getting a doctorate simmer in my thoughts. It has taken me over thirty years of learning, hoping and thinking to come up with a topic for my dissertation. For six years I worked on the idea of examining the gifted personality in Tanakh. I did research on the nature of giftedness and tried to relate the ideas to Biblical characters. This idea came to me as a result of needing to learn more about my sons situation. I did a lot of research and wrote 15 pages before the idea and enthusiasm fizzled. There was a long period that I did nothing. When I started teaching library school students I realized that I need to complete doctorate on a topic more connected to libraries. My earlier ideas were not related to my page 4 current teaching responsibilities or interests. I bugged all my friends and colleagues with conversations about topics. I thank them for putting up with all my discussions and questions. Finally the week of January 17, 2004, when we read parashat Shemot, the parasha convinced me of the perfect topic. The book of Shemot starts: These are the names of the Children of Israel Names have always interested me. I keep records of names for genealogical and other reasons. While preparing to teach the course on beginning cataloging, name authority was one topic I prepared a lecture about. Name authority is the system for keeping track of names in library catalogs. Name authority is something few non-catalogers understand, yet the application of the principles has wide applications to any organization that needs to keep records of people. The idea for my research was born. I had an idea close to my heart and within my expertise to complete in a reasonable period. page 5 Introduction Names have always fascinated me. From the moment I learned that people are more sensitive to sound of their own names than any other word I was hooked on the psychological nature of names. When I learned about the etymology and sources of names, I was hooked on the meanings of names. In high school while learning German I compiled a list of American names that come from German words. Most of the names on the list could be considered Jewish names because they are also Yiddish words. Since we frequently name babies after ancestors, the study of names is important in the study of family history and genealogy. After examining what I have been thinking and writing about during my career, I decided to write about names. Many people1 have written about names from a genealogical perspective. There are many books2 of names to help parents name babies. But I could find no one examining the etymological and linguistic roots of Hebrew names as they relate to current orthography and library catalogs. In the Jewish tradition we say that each person has three names, the one given by their parents, the one people call them, and the name they make for themselves. The problem for a researcher is to differentiate between those names. Anyone who deals with large numbers of names, whether they are a business dealing with customers or a librarian cataloging books, needs to make sure the names fit the person they are dealing with. Some people such those in security and law enforcement need to be sure of identity. I heard on the news that law enforcement agencies who maintain watch lists have a problem with transliterations of names in non-Roman characters. These agencies have no rules for choosing a form of a name or for systematic Romanization. These are operations that librarian catalogers do every day. The establishment of the form of a name entry is based on precedent, the name the person uses, and rules for the language of the person's county of origin. This is all part of name authority. I start out with the etymology of names from a linguistic view including the history of names and sources of the meaning of names. Hebrew names from the Biblical, Talmud and contemporary periods are examined. Family names are discussed and all this is background for the examination of Hebrew and Jewish name authority in libraries that use Anglo-American Cataloging Rules revision 2. This study is limited to Hebrew given names. This is not a comprehensive study of all Jewish names. Jewish names from non-Jewish sources unless they date from Biblical times. Yiddish names are not included in this study. Many names used by Jews have Yiddish, Greek, European, or English sources. These names may be used to call people to the Torah and in Jewish legal documents, but they are not part of this study. Jews often have Hebrew legal names and secular names. Secular names in Europe were sometimes in Yiddish. Some of these secular names have become Jewish legal names for contemporary Jews. Some names with foreign roots in the Tanakh are included because they have become popular Hebrew names. Some names with Aramaic roots that appear in the Talmud and are used today are included in this study. This study is mostly concerned with first, given names. Last names are not part of the same linguistic tradition as given names and family names. Last names have more flexibility and range of language sources than first names. Originally last names were most often chosen by adults for themselves. Adults often change their last names. Married page 6 1 For example : Benzion Kaganoff and Dan Rottenberg. 2 For example : Alfred Kolatch. women take their husbands names. Very few adults change their given names. Most Jews outside of Israel do not have last names based on Hebrew roots. The exceptions are patronymic names based on Biblical names. Catalogs from major research universities, major Judaica collections and national libraries were examined. Chapter 1 Names and Their Importance Origins of Hebrew The mysteries of origins have never ceased to fascinate us. Origins are always important to understand the how and why of our existence. The idea that Hebrew was the original language and the only language comes from Genesis 11:1 - . (All the earth had the same language and words.) Targum Yerushalmi on the verse says that this one language was . (in the holy language) This view was not only a Jewish point of view, but was widely held in the Christian world. In September 1797 a child of about 11 or 12 was seized by three sportsmen who saw him naked, gathering acorns and roots. The wild boy became know as Victor or the wild boy of Aveyron. There were some people who expected him to speak Hebrew. Victor was dirty, inarticulate and fought anyone who tried to help. His case became an experiment in learning language for his teacher, Dr. Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard. Victor could understand speech and identify speech sounds. He could respond to the sounds of movement, but not to a distant human voice. Dr. Itard tried to teach him vowels and later used a game to teach him written words. Victor learned to read a large number of words, but never grasped the skilled needed to read phrases or sentences. Despite gifted and talented teachers, the boy never learned language or other ways of society. Dr. Itard was convinced the child was performing to his limits of his intelligence and that limit was sub-normal. Victor could make the sounds (phonemes) of language. His hearing was normal, but he had no examples of human speech. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound; morphemes are the smallest units of meaning. They are the building blocks of language, which is symbolic thought. The first sounds humans made were imitations of the sounds of nature. These grunts were the first morphemes. The descendents of those words are onomatopoetic words such as bang, swish, gong, gurgle in English and , , , in Hebrew. Feral is the term for children apparently raised away from human contact. Since the 1600s, about 40 cases of feral children have become widely known and documented. The ones who were able to learn to speak were the one who had human contact before the age of two. The most recent case was a young boy, John Ssabunnya, who was reared by apes in the jungles of Uganda, living with a colony of African Green monkeys. John was born in the mid 1980s. At the age of two, three, or four, after witnessing his mother's murder by his own father, the boy ran away to the jungle. He was adopted by a local colony of African Green monkeys. The boy learnt their mannerisms, became adept at climbing trees and lived on a diet of fruit, nuts, roots and berries for the next three or four years. When he was finally found in 1991 and cleaned up, he was recognized by local villagers. After several years of intense schooling he learned to speak and was able to tell his story. page 7 These examples prove that hearing human sounds and language is required for the acquisition of language skills. The also explains why deaf child can never fully speak with the same intonation and fluency as hearing children. Deaf children have all the vocal abilities of hearing children, but the example of nuance, intonation and example are never present. Power of Names In Genesis 2:19-20 Adam gives all the beasts and birds names. In Genesis 3:20 Adam names his wife, Eve. This was a power over the world that God granted Adam. The act of naming gives the namer a kind of magical power. When parents name a child, they choose a name that will fit the child. Adam named his wife, Hava, meaning life. Even though I can not find a scientific experiment to prove this, a person is more sensitive to hearing his/her own name than any other word. I tried this experiment in a casual setting and it points to being true. People have stated that is seems to be true for them. In interviews with people with names that are also common spoken words (i.e. Yisrael or Barukh) they stated that when someone says a sound close to their names they listen to see if they are being called. One Barukh knew from the tone of voice the different between his name and the beginning word of a blessing. Among the sources for names are names in nature (such as names based on animals), names containing Gods name (Daniel, Michael, Samuel), names from common words (Hannah, Dina, Abba) and names that are diminutives, derivatives, pet forms, or language transformations of other names (for example Danny comes from Daniel and Mary comes from Miriam.) Linguistic Proofs There is no irrefutable scientific experiment based proof for linguistic theories. Evidence for the development of language is gathered from old writings, differences and similarities among languages, language in isolated groups, understandings of the physiology of making phonemes, and understanding of history, sociology, and psychology. A correct hypothesis can not be proved; only incorrect hypotheses can be disproved. Since audio recordings from ancient times do not exist we can only speculate on how sounds have evolved. Nothing stated in this document is certain. I present the best evidence and make my analysis, but no one knows when new evidence will show errors in my work. Language is the result of meaning attached to sounds and writing. I have learned from the writing of Dr. John Gray3 the words one person says have different meanings in the head of the listener. His talks a lot about the gender differences in language, but really the implications of research for linguistics is that gesture, verbiage, and tone of voice are important for the meaning and interpretations of conversations. Written words give the researcher only a small percentage of the information a language researcher would want. Some of the sounds can be guessed from how words rhyme in poetry. Why Study Given Names? 3 See his Mars/Venus books. Men are from Mars; women are from Venus and others. page 8 This study is focusing on given names because they are the personal names from ones parents. Personal names have existed from the time of the very first, man, Adam. Parents choose names for personal or family reasons. They are more limiting than family or last names. Parents choose names that sound nice, honor ones ancestors, or have a quality that the parents would like to have emulated. Family names have more diverse sources than personal names. In an effort to make their choice special parents choose unusual spellings or search sources such as the Tanakh to find inspiration. Many family names have different meaning for Jews and non-Jews. For example Katz for German speakers means cat. For Jews Katz is an acronym for kohen tzedek. Kessler as a German name is someone who makes kettles or a coppersmith. As a Jewish name it is a patronymic from the Hebrew Yekutiel. Kessel was a nickname for Yekutiel; hence Kessler means, descendent of Kessel. The English name, Cooper comes from the maker or seller of barrels, wine casks, or tubs. Cooperman is the helper or servant of the master cooper. For Jews and Germans Cooper and Copperman derive from Kupfer (copper) meaning coppersmith. Wahl in German and Yiddish names means choice or election while in Polish it means ox. Given names are easier to trace their sources. The vast majority of Hebrew names have origins in the Tanakh. Other names such as Moses, Alexander, and Esther. come from the surrounding cultures. Some names such as Akiva, Rabba, and Abba come from Aramaic and are mentioned in the Talmud. Modern Israeli names come from contemporary Hebrew words and their derivatives i.e. nicknames, pet names and diminutives of previous names. For example Joe, Yossi, or Joey from Yoseph and Sam, Sammy, Shmuli, Shimu, and Shep from Shmu el. Hereditary family names were enacted by law over long period of time. It was not until January 1, 1935 that a Turkish law went into effect making the use of family names compulsory. In Western Europe laws were passed in the 18th and early 19th century to require the use of family names. In 1787 Emperor Joseph II issued an edict ordering the Jews of Galicia and Bucovina to adopt family names. July 20, 1908 Napoleon decreed that all Jews in his empire were required to have family names. In 1845 Russian Jews were finally required to take permanent family names even though the process began in 1821. page 9 Chapter 2 Names in the Tanakh Names for God Many Biblical and modern personal names contain the name of God by the use of two or more letters from one of the Hebrew names of God or use of a name connected to the attributes of God. This suggests that humans, created in the image of God, attempt to put a bit of God in the newborn. The Hebrew names for God do not always translate precisely into English partly because the name of God in Hebrew is closely connected with the religion, history, and nationality of the Jewish people. In English expressions such as, Oh God!, My God! and God be with you, the concept is the G O D is the representation of the personal name. We are addressing God directly by using the word G O D. In Hebrew both from a theological and linguistic point of view the names for God address attributes of God. The phrase, ' - H hu elohim (Y is God) is meaningless in modern English. Elohim is the office of divinity. An analogous express in English is, Jack Goldberg is the rabbi. You may still call, rabbi and Jack Goldberg will answer, but rabbi is the name of the office. In the human world, another person may occupy the office of rabbi. In the divine world, Y always has been and always will be God. The divinity and personal aspects of Gods names are integral to understanding the history of human and divine names. This study is concerned with names of God that set precedence for Hebrew names. Those names are YHVH, el, and elohim [---, , -] Names describing qualities such as redeemer, Lord of hosts, and Man of War are not part of this study. YHVH Hebrew personal names, including the names of God, are more than mere distinguishing titles or labels. The names used for God represents the conception of the Divine nature or character or the relation of God to the people. The name represents the Deity as He is known to worshipers and stands for all attributes which are revealed to them through His activity. A new manifestation of His interest or care may give rise to a new name. An old name may acquire a new connotation or significance through new experiences of sacred relationships. Names for people represent qualities and attributes of that person. The poetic and mythological texts, which came to light in the excavations of Ras Shamra-Ugarit in the years 1930, 1931, and 1933, refer to the Canaanite pantheon. Baal was the god of fertility. 4 El was the head of the pantheon and recognized as the god of all Canaanite peoples. 4 See Judges 6:25-32 for the story of Gideon tearing down the alter of Baal. Baal worship was a wide spread rival to Judaism in Biblical times. Prophets and kings fought against the pagan rituals of Baal worship. King Ethball of the Phoenicians served Baal as mentioned in 1Kings 17:31. For some reason Bel is sometimes used in English translations of Canaanite stories. page 10 Yamm is the master of the sea. In this picture from the collection of Prof. Benjamin Sass and found in the web site : http://as3.lib.byu.edu/~imaging/negev/Names.html [el] is present as a single word in the ancient script. This inscription is from about 1500 BCE. Since the date of the Exodus is not exactly clear in our time frame, this inscription would roughly match the time of the Exodus. The script would likely be what Moses used for the Torah. In later texts (for example Habbakuk) from the Dead Sea Scrolls the name of God is written in the script of the First Temple period even though the rest of the text was in a contemporary script. From a corpus of over one hundred inscriptions with the Yod Heh [] or other forms of the tetragrammaton the scribes wrote the letters in archaic script. Since most of the inscriptions of these ancient dwellers were religious, their language was viewed as a carrier of sacred knowledge and such a language has a conservative preference for archaic forms. That is, God's name should be written in the script used by Moses. When explaining Gods names it is difficult to separate the theological from the linguistic, grammatical, or sociological aspects. The tetragrammaton or in Hebrew represent the personal name of God. The four letters ---, the four letter5 of the personal or private name of God are never written casually or taken in vain. When two letters of the name are used (such as yod-yod [ ] or yod-hey []) they imply that the writer meant the full name of God. In the inscriptions the picture of a ram is connected with both Yah and El. Perhaps there is a connection between the sound made by a ram and its Hebrew name ayil [] [yod between the aleph-lamed? Also perhaps there is a connection between the ram and the name of God since is connected to the name of God? Eliezer Berkovits6 says that the Hebrew words associated with God are difficult to translate. In his Man and God he lets the Hebrew stand as an appreciation of the original whenever possible. When the limitations language did not allow that he uses a Y to present the four letters of Gods name when writing about the concept or philosophy of God and YHVH when dealing with the uniqueness and personal closeness to God. He does not put the letters in bold or italics. This method works for a book of theology, but is not satisfactory for a work dealing with linguistics and 5 See the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:7. While many explain this commandment means not use Gods name falsely in an oath; others say it means never to use Gods name in way not connected to a higher purpose. In the Talmud Pesahim 50a it is stated that in the world to come the tetragrammaton and its pronunciation will be one. " " " " ... 6 In Man and God pages 9, 11-21. page 11 orthography. I will use the letters in bold face when dealing with the letters or orthography of Gods name Y in plain type face if writing about any other aspect of the personal nature of God. There is a separation of the name of God from Gods attributes. When Moses is at the burning bush in chapter 3 of Exodus talking directly to God, he is skeptical. Y first identifies himself with history, the God of your father, the God of Abraham 7 Moses was afraid but still wanted a better way of referring to Y. Moses said that the Israelites would not believe he was sent by God without a name. God says to Moses that His name is: Eheyeh-Asher-Eheyeh.8 Moses is then commanded to tell the Children of Israel Y the God of their fathers has sent him and This shall be My name forever.9 God is telling Moses and the Children of Israel his personal name. What does it mean to be able to call God by His name? Berkovits says that this and other phrases referring to God such as Y is a man of war, Y is His name10 are mysterious. Berkovits suggests that Y is a man of war because Y, his name and Y is equated with war. This contradicts narrow interpretations of Gods name. In some places the name, Y or Your name means giving glory or reputation. Psalm 8:2 and 10 says : How majestic is Your name throughout the earth. If the universe is the creation of God and Man is the image of God, it is logical that parents would want a piece of Gods name in their children to always remind them of the glory of God. Anther reason to use a form of Gods name in naming your child is that the spoken name is equivalent to having the divine presence, power, or glory in your family all the time. Since Gods name excites emotions of love, joy, and praise (Ps. 5:11; 7:17; 9:2; 20:1, 7) parents want those emotions toward their children. Berkovits, the theologian, explains the meaning of Gods name in the terms of glory, redemption, and honor, while the linguist wants to understand how the names enter the language and thought of the people. The tetragrammaton (YHVH) occurs about 6823 times in the Tanakh. It is sometimes represented in English as "Jehovah," but this is philogically impossible.11 YHVH appears to be the third person singular imperfect "kal" of the verb. This explanation agrees with the meaning of the name given in Ex. 3:14, where God is represented as speaking using the first person-"I am." The idea of life is intimately connected with the name YHVH from early times. He is the living God, the source and author of life, as contrasted with the lifeless gods of the heathen. Elohim Elohim ( ) is a plural form though commonly accompanied with a singular verb or adjective. This is, most probably, to be explained as a majestic or royal plural. Compare to the similar use of 7 Verse 6. , ... 8 The JPS English translation leaves these words untranslated in the main text. A footnote adds that the usual translation is either I am who I am, I am that I am,or I will be what I will be. The YHVH is associated with the root meaning to be. An archaic form of the root is probably meaning to blow or to breathe. 9 3:15. 10 Exodus 15:3 11 This form was introduced by Christian theologians in about 1560, but universally disregarded by Jews. This pronunciation comes from the vowels of the YHVH in the kere and the consonants of the kitib Those vowels were inserted by the Masorites to avoid the names pronunciation. See the article in the Jewish Encyclopedia "Jehovah," for more details. Sometimes the Greek translation of the Bible uses PIPI for YHVH and sometimes uses Knrtoj [ Kristos.] page 12 plurals of "ba'al" (master) and "adon" (lord). The singular, Eloah (), is comparatively rare, occurring only in poetry and late prose (in Job, 41 times). The word El () appears in Assyrian (ilu), Ugaritic and Phoenician, as well as in Hebrew, as an ordinary name of their god. It is found also in Aramaic, Arabic, and Ethiopic, as in Hebrew, as an element in proper names. It is used in both the singular and plural, both for other gods and for the God of Israel. As a name of God, however, it is used chiefly in poetry and prophetic discourse, rarely in prose, and then usually with some epithet attached, as "a jealous God." Other examples of its use with some attribute or epithet are: El 'Elyon ( "most high God"), El Shaddai ( "God Almighty"), El 'Olam ( "everlasting God"), El hai ( "living God"), El Elohe Israel ( "God, the God of Israel"), El Gibbor ( "Hero God"). The root aleph-lamed-hey is assumed to be the root of , , el, eloha, and elohim but this is uncertain. According to Brown, Driver, Briggs, W. Genenuis says that and are distinct forms. is from the root meaning to go to and fro in awe. Other explanations suggest the meaning as to lead, or to be in front as in the object of reverence. The suggestions that has the root meaning strong is questionable since the segol vowel under the aleph is short. The derivation of this name from the Hebrew root , "to be strong," is extremely doubtful since a similar root has been explained from the Arabic as meaning "to be in front," "to be foremost," "to lead," "to rule," which would give the meaning "leader," "lord." The initial vowel in El was originally short, as seen in such proper names as Elkanah, Elihu, and in the Assyrian "ilu," is strong evidence against this derivation. Because of the connection to the Canaanite god, el I speculate the meaning is connected to the concept of strong. However, it is necessary to admit that the root, original source, and meaning are not known with certainty. A big question concerns why there are multiple names for God. In the pre-Israelite, Canaan pantheon El is the supreme god. El is the leader and intermediary between the people and other gods. This parallels the use of the word El and Elohim. Chapter 18 of Kings throws the most light on the phrase, ki Y hu ha-Elohim -- , (that H, He is the God) 12 Eliyahu confronts all the people and asks: If Y is God, how long will you keep hopping between two opinions? If Yis God, follow him! Why do we need to know Y is El? (Kings 18: 2113) This kind of translation is misleading. Even using the English word, "God" is difficult in this discussion. Relying on the English translation the reader gets the idea that the people are wondering if Y is God. This notion is not in the Hebrew text. After the Exodus and revelation at Sinai the people knew that Y is the one and only God. "ha-elohim" has another kind of meaning here. The answer is in the formulation of Eliyahu's question, "If Y is God, follow him!" "Ha-Elohim" is the one to follow. This parallels the Canaanite god, 'El who is the leader. The god who leads is the one we follow. Eliyahu tells the prophets of Baal in verse 24 You will then invoke your god by name, and I will invoke Y by name. Let us agree the god who responds with fire is the God. Relying on the English translation the reader gets the idea that the people are wondering if Y is God. This notion is not in the Hebrew text. After the Exodus and revelation at Sinai the people knew that Y is the one and only God. ha-elohim has another kind of meaning here. The answer is in the formulation of Eliyahus question, If Y is God, follow him! Ha-Elohim is the one to follow. This parallels the Canaanite god, El, who is the leader. The god who leads is the one we follow. Eliyahu tells the prophets of Baal in verse 24 You will then invoke your god by name, and 12 This translation is temporary. The following paragraphs explain the whole meaning and the process for figuring out that meaning. 13 ... - - ---- page 13 I will invoke Y by name. Let us agree the god who responds with fire is the God. Berkovits explains that the god of the prophets of Baal are in search of an elohim to serve their needs. Thus in Tanakh Y is our Elohim; Y is one, but the word elohim not the only messenger. Classification of Personal names The majority of the names in the Tanakh originate from the Hebrew language. Over half of the 2800 names in the Bible are personal names associated with only one Biblical character. For example, there is only one Abraham and one David in the Tanakh. Only about 5% of the names found in the Tanakh are used today. Biblical names are organized into these categories and sub-categories14 1. Theophoric names with God's name either as a prefix or suffix. Names with letters of the tetragrammaton (i.e. , , , ) Names with el () Name with qualities of God without the actual letters from His name 2. Names describing the characteristics of a person. 3. Names influenced by the experiences of the parents. 4. Names from nature Animals Plants or flowers Sounds or events 5. Conditions or experiences of mankind or the nation. 6. Names which express hope for the future or a desired condition. 7. Names from geographic places. In other chapters of this work the lists of names are based on literary president, which means I needed a author or person with that name in order to include the name on the list. These tables include all possible names because of their connections to the names of God and because they examples for contemporary names. Many of the names are in common usage today, but most are not used. The translations are based on Brown, Driver, Briggs Lexicon. I have made the language of the meanings more consistent than in the Lexicon. Some meanings contain a question mark because the meaning is uncertain. The sample sources were found in a concordance then checked in the Hebrew and English Tanakh. This study is concerned with the orthography, transliteration, and meanings of the name. Who the Biblical character was is not part of this study. It is interesting to note that most of the names only fit one person in the Tanakh. The naming of children for ancestors does not seem to be part of culture in Biblical times. 14 While many parents give children names from the Bible, there are also many new, creative and modern Hebrew names used today. These names could be words found in the Tanakh such as Shir meaning song Gal meaning wave or Gil meanings joy or they could be diminutives, nicknames, or compound names. Since they have no Biblical characters associated with them, they will be discussed in a later chapter. page 14 Table 1 Names that end in or Personal names containing letters from the tetragrammaton. These names reflect the notion that Y is part of the name holder. Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh15 Meaning16 aviyah Abijah 1Chr 7:8; 1Sa 8:2 Y is my father , adoniyah Adonijah 2Sa 3:4; 1Ki 1:5 My master is Y uriyah Uriah 2Sa 11:3; 1Ch 11:41 Y is my light azaniyah Azaniah Neh 10:10 Y listens , ahiyah Ahijah 1Ch 8:7; 1Ki 14:4 Y is my brother , ahaziyah Ahaziah 2Ki 1:5; 2Ch 20:35 My possession is Y , eliyahu Eliyahu Job 32:2; Job 35:1 My God is Y Baidya Bedeiah Ez. 10:35 Separate is Y Beezyotyah Biziothiah Jos. 15:28 Booty of Y , Benayah Benaiah 2 Sa 8:18; 23:20 Y has built up Bisodyah Besodeah Neh. 3:6 In the secret of Y ? Baalyah Bealiah 1Ch 12:5 Y is the master Baasayah Baaseiah 1Ch 6:25 Made from Y? Bakbukyah Bakbukiah Neh 11:17, 12:9 Y is luxuriant? Birayah Beraiah 1Ch 8:21 Created of Y , Berekhyah Berchiah Neh 3:4, 18 Y blessed Bityah Bithiah 1Ch 4:18 Worshipper of Y or daughter of Y? , Gamriyah Gemariah Jer 36:10,11 Y has accomplished , Dilayah Delaiah Ez 2:60, Neh 7:62 Y has drawn , Hodavyah Hodaviah 1Ch 5:24 Thanks to Y Hodiyah Hodiah Neh 8:7, 9:5 My splendor is Y Hodvah Hodeiah Neh 7:43 My splendor is Y Hosaayah Hoshaiah Jer 42:1; Neh 12:32 Salvation of Y Vanyah Vaniah Ez 10:36 Stranger of Y? , Zevadyah Zebadiah 1Ch26:2, 17:8 Gift of Y Zeharyah Zechariah 2Ki 14:29, 15:11 Remembrance of Y Zerahyah Zerahiah Ez 7:4, 1Ch 5:32 Y will arise or shine Habayah Habaiah Ez 2:61, Neh 7:63 Love of Y ? Havatsinyah Habazziniah Jer 35:3 ? 15 These are sample verses containing the names. Since many names appear only once in the Tanakh this may be the only source. The sources are from a concordance. 16 The meaning is my version of the definitions found in Brown, Driver, Briggs. I fixed inconsistencies in their translations. They used Yah or the Hebrew yod indicate YHVH; I use Y. Some names are not found in Brown, Driver, Briggs and I could not find any other sources for meaning. These names have a questions mark in the cell. Names with questionable meanings have a possible meaning followed by a question mark. page 15 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh15 Meaning16 Hagyah Haggiah 1Ch 6:15 Festival of Y Hazyah Hazaiah Neh 11:5 Y has seen , Hizkiyah Hezekiah 2Ki 18:1, 18:13 Y has strengthened Hakhalyah Hacaliah Neh 1:1, 10:2 Wait for Y , Hilkiyah Hilkiah 2Ki 22:8, Ez 7:1 My portion is Y , Hananyah Hananiah Jer 28:1. 2 Ch 26:11 Y is gracious Hasadyah Hasadiah 1Ch 3:20 Y is kind Harhatah Harhaiah Neh 3:8 Y is angry? , Hashabyah Hashabiah Ez 8:19. Neh 10:12 Y has taken account Hashabniyah Hashabeiah Neh 3:10, 9:5 Accounting of Y ? Toviyah Tobijah Zach 6:10 Y is my good , , Yaazniyah Jaazaniah Ez 11:1, 2 Ki 25:23 Y will hear? Yivniyah Ibneiah 1Ch 9:8 Y will build Yedidyah Jedidah 2Ki 22:1 Beloved of Y Yedaya Jedaiah Neh 3:10, 1Ch 4:37 Thanks to Y Yedayah Jedaiah Ez 2:36, 1Ch 9:10 Knowledge of Y Yosifyah Josiphiah Ez 8:10 Y adds Yosivyah Joshibiah 1Ch 4:35 Y settles, Y causes to dwell Yoshavyah Joshaviah 1Ch 11:46 Resembles Y Yiziyah Izziah Ez 10:25 May Y sprinkle Yezrahyah Izrahiah 1Ch 7:3 Y will arise or shine / Yahzeyah Jahzeiah Ez 10:15 Y sees Yihiyah Jehiah 1Ch 15:24 May Y live Yikholyah Jecoliah 2Ch 26:3, 2Ki 15:2 Y will complete Yikhyah Jeconiah Jer 28:4 ; 1Ch 3:16 Y appointed Yaareshyah Jaareshiah 1Ch 8:27 Cradle of Y ? Yikamyah Jekamiah 1Ch 2:41 Y will rise Yiriyah Irijah Jer 37:13 Y sees / Yiriyah Jeriah 1Ch 26:31, 23:19 Y will teach? Yirmirah Jeremiah Jer 27:1, 28:5, 29:1 Y opened or loosened the womb? or Y uplifted? Yirmiyahu Jeremiah Jer 1:1, 7:1 Yeshohayah Jeshohaiah 1Ch 4:36 Be humbled by Y / Yishmayah Ishmaiah 1Ch 12:4, 27:19 Y will listen Yishayah Jeshaiah Ez 8:7 Salvation of Y Yishayahu Isaiah 2Ki 19:2, 20:4 Salvation of Y Mahsayah Mahseiah Jer 32:12, 51:59 Y is a refuge / Mikhayah, Mikhayahu Micah Jer 26:18 Who is like Y / Mikhah Micah 1Ch 5:5, 2Ch 34:20 Who is like Y Milatyah Melatiah Neh 3:7 Y delivered page 16 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh15 Meaning16 Malkiyah Malchiah Jer 21:1, Ez 10:31 My king is Y / Maadyah Maadiah Neh 12:5 Testimony to Y Maazyah Maaziah Neh 10:9 Y is a fortress? / Maasayah Maaseiah Jer 21:1, Neh 12:41 Deed or work of Y Matanyah Mattaniah 2Ki 24:17, Ez 10:27 Gift of Y Matityah Mattithiah Ez 10:43, Neh 8:4 Given from Y Nidabyah Nedabiah 1Ch 3:18 Whom Y incites Noadyah Noadiah Ez 8:33 Meeting with Y Nihemyah Nehemiah Neh 1:1, 8:9 Y comforts Niaryah Neariah 1Ch 3:23 Child of Y Nareyah Neriah Jer 32:12, 51:59 Light or lamp of Y / Nitanyah Nethaniah 2Ki 25:23, Jer 40:14 Gift of Y / Ovadiyah Obadiah Ob 1, Neh 10:6 Servant of Y Ovadyavu Obadiah 1Ki 18:3, 1Ch 27:19 Servant of Y Azazyahu Azaziah 1Ch 27:20 Y is mighty Uziyah Uzziah 2Ki 15:30, Zach 14:5 Y is strong Azaryah Azariah 2Ki 14:21, Neh 3:2 Y has helped / Elyah Alvah Gen 36:40. 1Ch 1:51 Beside Y Amasyah Amasiah 2Ch 17:16 Y carried Ananyah Ananiah Neh 3:23, 11:32 Cloud of Y Antotiyah Anthothiah 1Ch 8:24 Humbled of Y? Asayah Asaph 2Ki 22:12, 1Ch 9:15 Made of Y Atayah Athaiah Neh 11:4 With Y? / Atalyah Athaliah Ez 8:7, 1Ch 8:26 Y is exalted Pidayah Pedaiah 2Ki 23:36, Neh 3:25 Y has ransomed Pilayah Pelaiah Neh 8:7, 10:11 Y is extraordinary / Pilatyah Peletiah Neh 10:23, 1Ch 3:21 Escaped of Y Pilayah Pelaiah 1Ch 3:24 Y is distinct Pilalyah Pelaliah Neh 11:12 Y has interposed Pikahyah Pekahiah 2Ki 15:22 Y has opened the eyes Tsivyah Zibiah 2Ki 12:2, 2Ch 24:1 Swiftness of Y17 / Tsidkiyah Zedekiah 1Ki 22:11, 1Ki 22:24 Y is righteous / Tsifanyah Zephaniah Ze 1:1, Jer 21:1 Y has treasured Tsiruyah Zeruiah 1Sa 26:6, 1Ki 2:22 They are wrapped in Y? Kolyah Kolaiah Jer 29:21, Neh 11:7 Voice of Y Kushayahu Kushaiah 1Ch 15:17 My lure is Y Riayah Reaiah 1Ch 5:5, Ez 2:47 Y has seen / Rihavyah Rehabiah 1Ch 23:17, 1Ch 24:21 Wide is Y Ramyah Ramiah Ez 10:25 Y has loosened? 17 Tsiviyah, meaning gazelle, has just a small vowel switch. To fit into this section the name needs to be connected to Y. page 17 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh15 Meaning16 Rialyah Reelaiah Ez 2:2 Shacked by Y? Raamyah Raamiah Neh 7:7 Thunder of Y Rifayah Rephaiah Neh 3:9 Y heals / Sirayah Shealtiel 2Ki 25:18, Neh 12:1, Jer 36:26 Y persists Shiharyah Shehariah 1Ch 8:26 Seeking Y Sakhyah Sachiah 1Ch 8:10 Appearance of Y? / Shikhanyah Shecaniah Ez 8:3. Neh 12:3 Y has taken up his abode / Shimayah Shemaiah 1Ki 12:22, Jer 29:31 Y listens / Shimaryah Shemariah Ez 10:32, 2Ch 11:19 Y has kept, preserved Shifatyah Shephatiah 2Sa 3:4, Jer 38:1 Y has judged Shifatyahu Shephatiah 1Ch 27:16 Y has judged Shairaibyah Sherebiah Neh 9:4 Y has sent burning heat page 18 Table 2 Names with endings Note: some of these names are variants to the names ending in Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh18 Meaning19 / Aviyahu Abijam 2Ch 13:20 ; 1Ki 14:31 Y is my father Uriyahu Uriah Jer 26:20 Flame of Y or Y is my light Atsalyahu Azaliah 2Ki 22:3; 2Ch 34:8 Y has reserved Bukiyahu Bukkiah 1Ch 25:4 Proved of Y Gidalyahu Gedaliah 2Ki 25:22 Y is great Dodavahu Dodavahu 2Ch 20:37 Beloved of Y Tivalyahu Tebliah 1Ch 26:11 Y has purified Yazayahu Jaazaniah Yz 11:1 Y will hear? Yoshiyahu Josiah 2Ki 21:24 Y supports / Yivnayahu Ibneiah 1Ch 9:8 Y will build Yiberekhyahu Jeberechiah Is 8:2 Y will bless Yegdalyahu Igdaliah Jer 35:4 Y is great Yehdiyah Jehdeiah 1Ch 24:20 May Y give joy Yaazanyahu Jaazaniah 2Ki 25:23 Y hears Yehdiyahu Jehdeiah 1Ch 24:20 My Y give joy Yismakhyahu Ismaciah 2Ch 31:13 Y sustains Yazazyahu Azaziah 2Ch 31:13 Y will be mighty Yismayahu Ishmaiah 1Ch 27:19 Y will hear Yishayahu Isaiah 2Ki 19:2; Is 1:1 Salvation of Y 20 Kiluhu, Kiluhi Cheluhu Ez 10:35 Y is complete? Kanyahu Coniah Jer 22:24 Y appointed / Kananyahu, Kavonanyahy Chenaniah 1Ch 15:27 Y is firm Malkiyahu Malchiah Jer 38:6 My king is Y Maasayahu Maaseiah Jer 35:4; 2Ch 23:1 Work of Y Miknayahu Mikneiah 1Ch 15:18 Possession of Y Matanyau Mattaniah 2Ki 24:17; Ezr 10:26 Gift of Y / Matityahu Mattethias 1Ch 15:18 Gift of Y Simakhyahu Semachiah 1Ch 26:7 Y has sustained Avadyahu Obadiah 1Ki 18:3 Servant of Y Azazyahu Azaziah 2Ch 31:13 Y is mighty Pidayahu Padaiah 1Ch 27:20 Y has ransomed 18 These are sample verses containing the names. Since many names appear only once in the Tanakh this may be the only source. The sources are from a concordance. 19 The meaning is my version of the definitions found in Brown, Driver, Briggs. I fixed inconsistencies in their translations. They used Yah or the Hebrew yod indicate YHVH; I use Y. Some names are not found in Brown, Driver, Briggs and I could not find any other sources for meaning. These names have a questions mark in the cell. Names with questionable meanings have a possible meaning followed by a question mark. 20 In Ezra 10:35 the Kere form is : page 19 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh18 Meaning19 / Kushiyahu Kushaiah 1Ch 15:17 Lure of Y ? Ramalyahu Remaliah 2Ki 15:25 Adornment of Y? Table 3 Names prefixed with or Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh21 Meaning22 / Yhoahaz Jehoahaz 2Ki 10:35; 2Ch 25:25 Y has grasped / Yoash / Yehoash Joash 2Ki 12:1; 2Ch 24:1 Meaning uncertain. May mean: fire of Y or Y has given. / Yehozabad Jehozabad 2Ch 17:18; Neh 11:16 Y endows or bestows / Yehohanan / Yohanan Jehohanan Neh 6:18 ; 1Ch 26:3 Y has been gracious / Yehoyada Jehoiada 2Ki 11:4; 2Ch 23:14 Y will know / Yihoyakhin Jehoiachim 2Ki 24:6 Y appointed Yehoyakin Jehoiachin 2Ki 24:6 ; 2 Ch 38:8 Y appointed / Yehoyakim Jehoiakim 2Ki 23:34 ; 2Ch 36:4 Y raises up / Yehoyariv Jehoiarib 1Ch 9:10 Y pleaded or contended / Yonatan / Yehonatan Jonathan 1Sa 14:6; Neh 12:18 Y has given Yehoadah Jehoaddah 1Ch 8:36 Y has carried off spoil or has deposed Yehoadan Jehoaddan 2Ki 14:2 Y delights / Yohtsedek / Yotsedek Jehozadak Hag 1:1; 1Ch 5:40 Y is just / Yehoram Johoram 1Ki 22:51 ; 2Ki 8:16 Y is exalted / Yehosheva Jehosheba 2Ki 11:2; 2Ch 22:11 Y is satisfied / Yehoshua Joshua Ex. 17:9; Nu 13:8 Y is salvation / Yehoshama Hoshama 1Ch 3:18 Y has heard / Yehoshafat Jehoshaphat 1Ki 15:24 ; 1Ch 3:10 Y has judged / Jonadab Yehonadav 2Sam 13:5 ; Jer 35:16 Y is generous / Yehotsadak Jehozadak Hag 1:1; 1Ch 5:40 Y is righteous Yoav Joab 1Sa 26:6 Y is the father Yoah Joah 1Ch 6:6 Y is a brother Yoel Joel 1Ch 4:35 ; 1ch 5:4 Y is E23 21 These are sample verses containing the names. Since many names appear only once in the Tanakh this may be the only source. The sources are from a concordance. 22 The meaning is my version of the definitions found in Brown, Driver, Briggs. Some names are not found in Brown, Driver, Briggs and I could not find any other sources for meaning. These names have a questions mark in the cell. Names with questionable meanings have a possible meaning followed by a question mark. E is used for El 23 In modern Hebrew Yoel means to be willing, to consent, or be so good. page 20 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh21 Meaning22 Yozahar Jozacar 2Ki 12:22 Y has remembered Yoha Joha 1Ch 8:16 Meaning uncertain. May be connected to root / Yoyada / Yihoyada Jehoiada 2Sa 8:18; 1 Ki 1:38 Y is knowledge ? / Yoyakhin / Yihoyaknin Jehoiacin Yz 1:2 Y appoints Yokheved Jochebed Ex 6:20 Y is strength / Yukhal Jehucal Jer 37:3 Y is able / Yonadav / Yihonadav Jonadad 2Sa 13:5; 2Ki 10:15 Y is generous / Yosef / Yihoseaf Joseph Gn 49:22 ; Ex 1:5 Y increases or Y adds Yoezer Joezer 1Ch 12:7 Y helps Yoash Joash 1Ch 27:28 Y makes? Yokim Jokim 1Ch 4:22 Y raises up / Yihoram / Yoram Jehoram 1Ki 22:51; 2Ki 8:21 Y is exalted Yotam Jotham 2Ki 15:7 Y is perfect Table 4 Names ending with El Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh24 Meaning25 / - Aviel / Avi-alvon Abiel 1Sa 9:1 ; 1Ch 11:32 E is my father Adbiel Adbeel Gen 25:13 Grief of E? Uel Uel Ez 10:34 Will of E Uriel Uriel 1Ch 6:9 My light is E or flame of Ahiel This is a full form of None My brother is E Itiel Ithiel Pr 30:1 ; Neh 11:7 E is with me Eliel Eliel 1Ch 5:24 E is God or my God is E / Ariel / Arel Ariel 2Sa 23:20 ; Ez 8:16 My lion is E or Hearth of E ? / Bet El Bethel Gen 28:19 ; Jos 7:2 House of E Beit Arvael Beth-arbel Hos 10:14 House of the West of E? Asarel Asarel 1Ch 4:16 Good from E? Bitsalel Bezalel Ex 31:2 ; 2Ch 1:5 In the shadow or protection of E 24 These are sample verses containing the names. Since many names appear only once in the Tanakh this may be the only source. The courses are from a concordance. 25 The meaning is my version of the definitions found in Brown, Driver, Briggs. Some names are not found in Brown, Driver, Briggs and I could not find any other sources for meaning. Names with questionable meanings have a possible meaning followed by a question mark. A few names can not be defined. E is used for El page 21 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh24 Meaning25 Barakhel Barachel Job 32:2 E blesses / Bituel Bethuel Gen 22:22 Man of E Giuel Geuel Nu 13:15 Majesty of E Gavrel Gabriel Da 8:16 Man of E Gaddeel Gaddiel Nu 13:10 E is my fortune Gamleel Gamaliel Nu 1:10 Reward of E / Daniel Daniel Dn 1:1 My judge is E Diuel Reuel Nu 2:14 Knowledge from E Lael Lael Nu 3:24 Belonging to E Zabdeel Zabdiel 1Ch 27:2 My gift is E / Hazael Hazael 1Ki 19:15 ; 2Ch 22:5 E sees Haziel Haziel 1Ch 23:9 Vision of E Hiel Hiel 1Ki 16:34 E lives Hammuel Hammuel 1Ch 4:26 E warms? Hanniel Hanniel Nu 34:23; 1Ch 7:39 Favor of E Hanamel Hanamel Jer 32:7 Gracious of E Tavel Tabeel Ez 4:7 E is good Yavniel Jabneel Jos 15:11; 2Ch 26:6 E will build Yideael Jediael 1Ch 7:6 Known of E Yoel Joel 1Ch 4:35 ; 1ch 5:4 Y is E26 Yihalelel Asarel 1Ch 4:16 He will praise E Yahdiel Jahdiel 1Ch 5:24 E gives praise Yihezkel Ezekiel Eze 1:3 E strengthens / Yihiel / Hiel Jehiel 1Ch 15:18 ; 2Ch 31:13 May E live Yahliel Jahleel Gen 46:14 Wait for E / Yahtsiel Jahzeel Nu 26:48 E divides or apportions / Yimuel Jemuel Gen 46:10; Nu 26:12 He will sleep with E? / / Yieel, Yieel, Yiuel Jeuel 1Ch 9:6, 2Ch 20:14 Appointed of E? / Yaaziel Jaaziel 1Ch 15:18 E will be strong Yaasiel Jaasiel 1Ch 27:21 E will make - Yiftah el Jephthah 1Sa 12:11 E opens / Yikavtsiel Jekazeel Neh 11:25 ; Jos 15:21 Gathering for E or E gathers Yikutiel Jekuthiel 1Ch 4:18 Preservation of E ? Yirahmiel Jerahmeel 1Ch 2:9 May E have compassion / Yiriel / Yeruel Jeriel 1 Ch 7:2 ; 1Ch 20:16 Founded of E Yirfael Irpeel Jos 18:27 E will heal Yishimiel Jesimiel 1Ch 4:36 E established Yismael Ishmael Gen 17:25, 1Ch8:39 E hears 26 In modern Hebrew Yoel means to be willing, to consent, or be so good. page 22 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh24 Meaning25 Yisrael Israel Gen 32:29, Dt 18:6 E persists Yisraela Jesarelah 1Ch 25:14 E persists Yatniel Jathniel 1Ch 26:2 E hires Limuel Lemuel Pr 31:1 Toward E? Magdiel Magdiel Gen 36:43 Excellence of E? Mihatabel Mehetabel Gen 36:39 E benefits Mikhael Michael Nu 13:13; 1Ch 5:13 Who is like E Mikhal 1Sa 14:49 Fem. of Mishael Mishael Ex 6:22 Who is what E is? Malkiel Malchiel Nu 26:45 ; 1 Ch7:31 My king is E Mishizavel Meshezabel Neh 3:4 E delivers Nahaliel Nahaliel Nu 21:19 Valley (or palm) of E / Nimuel Jemuel / Nemuel Gen 46:10; Nu 26:12 He will sleep with E? Nieel Neiel Jos 19:27 E causes trembling? Nitanel Nethanel Nu 1:8, Ez 10:22 Gift of E Avadel Abdeel Jer 36:26 Servant of E Avadiel Abdiel 1Ch 5:15 My witness is E Adiel Adiel 1Ch 4:36 An ornament of E Adriel Adriel 1Sa 18:19 My help is E Uziel Uzziel Ex 6:22, Nu 3:30 My strength is E Azriel Azriel Jer 36:26, 1Ch 27:19 My help is E / Ammiel Ammiel 2Sa 9:4 ; 1Ch3:5 People of E Imanuel Immanuel Is 7:14 E is with us / - Asael Asahel 2Sa 2:19, Ez 10:15 E has made Asiel Asiel 1Ch 4:35 E accomplished Atniel Othniel Jos 15:17, 1Ch 4:13 Humble with E? PagiIel Pagiel Nu 1:13, 2:27 My meeting with E Pidael Padahel Nu 34:28 E has ransomed Putiel Putiel Ex 6:25 Meaning unknown Paltiel Paltiel Nu 34:26, 2Sa 3:15 My fugitive is E / Piniel / Penuiel Peniel 1Ki 12:25 ; Gen 32:31 Face of E Pituel Pethuel Joel 1:1 Man of E Tsuriel Zuriel Nu 3:35 E is my rock Kabtsiel Kabzeel Jos 15:21; 1Ch 11:22 Gathering of E or E gathers Kadmiel Kadmiel Ez 3:9. Neh 12;8 E is the ancient one Kimuel Kemuel Gen 22:21 E lifts up Riuel Reuel Gen 36:4 Ex 2:18 E has seen Reuel Reuel Gen 36:4, Nu 2:14 Friend of E Rifael Rephael 1Ch 26:7 E heals / Shaltiel, Shialtiel Shealtiel Hag 1:1, Ez 3:2 I have asked (or petitioned) of E / Shivuel / Shuvael Shebuel 1Ch 23:16, 1Ch 25:4 Return to E Shilumiel Shelumiel Nu 1:6 Make peace with E? Shimuel Samuel 1Sa 3:1 Name of E or His name page 23 Name / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh24 Meaning25 is E Names with el suggest the leadership aspect of God. Table 5 Names beginning with Names / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning El Bet-El El-bethel Gen 35:7 God of Bethel27 () El Brit El-berith Jud 9:46 House of Es covenant Eldad Eldad Nu 11:26 E has loved Eldaah Eldaah Gen 25:4 E has called Elzabad Elzabad 1Ch 12:12 E has given Elhanan Elhanan 2Sa 21:19; 1Ch 20:5 E has been gracious Eli None; seems to be used as a combining form. My God or E is my God Eliav Eliab Nu 1:9 ; 1Ch 6:12 E is father Eliel Eliel 1Ch 5:24 E is God or my God is God / Eliatah Eliathah 1Ch 25:4 E has come Elyada Elishua 2Sa 5:16 ; 1Ch 3:8 E has loved / Eliya / Eliyahu Elijah 1Ki 17:1 Y is E or Y is God (Compare this to ( / Elihu Elihu Job 32:2 ; 1Sam 16:6 He is my God / Elyihoainai Eliehoenai 1Ch 26:3 My eyes are upon Y Eliyoainai Elionai Ez 10:22 My eyes are upon Y Elyahba Eliahba 2Sa 23:32 Y hides Elihoref Eilhoreph 1Ki 4:3 E of winter? Elimelekh Elimelech Ru 1:2 E is king or my God is king Elyasaf Eliasaph Nu 1:14, 3:24 E has added Eliezer Eliezar Gen 15:2 E is help Elifaz Eliphaz Gen 36:4 E is fine gold Eliam Eliam 2Sam 11:3 E is kinsman Elifal Eliphal 1Ch 11:35 E has judged / Elipelet Eliphelet 2Sa 5:16 E is deliverance Elitsur Elizur Nu 1:5 E is a rock / Elitsfan Elizaphan Nu 3:30 E has protected Eliyakim Eliakim 2Ki 18:18 E sets up 27 This is a place name that Jacob gave to the alter near the settlement of Bethel also known as Luz. In Gen 35:15 the place is called -. page 24 Names / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning Elisheva Elisheba Ex 6:23 E is an oath Elishah Elishah Gen 10:4; 1Ch1:7 E is salvation? Elishavua Elishua 2Sa 5:15 E is salvation Elyashav Eliasib 1Ch 3:24 E restores Elishama Elishama Nu 1:10 ; 1Ch 7:26 E has heard Elisha Elisha 1Ki 19:16 E is salvation Elishafat Elishaphat 2Ch 23:1 E has judged / Eliatah, Eliyatah Eliathah 1Ch 25:4; 25:27 E has come Elnaam Elnaam 1Ch 11:46 E is pleasantness Elnatan Elnathan 2Ki 24:8 E has given Elad Elead 1Ch 7:21 E has testified Eladah Eleadah 1Ch 7:20 E has adorned Eliazer Eleazar Ex 6:23 E has helped Eluzai Eluzai 1Ch 12:5 E is my strength / Elalay Elaleh Nu 32:3; Is 15:4 E ascends ? Elasah Eleasah 1Ch 8:37 E has made Elpaal Elpaal 1Ch 8:11 God of action or E has acted? Elkah Elkanah 1Sa 1:1 E created or E has taken possession Elkoshi Elkoshite Na 1:1 E is fierce?28 / Eltolad Eltolad Jos 15:30 E causes to be born / Eltiha Eltekeh Jos 19:44 E straightens? Eltikon Eltekon Jos 15:59 E has made straight? Table 6 Names with as a prefix or suffix Note that some of these are repeated from other tables. Names with Melekh suggest the kingship of God. Names / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning Avimelekh Abimelech Gen 20:18 My father is Molekh29 Adramelekh Adrammelech 2Ki 17:31 Adar is prince30 Ahimelekh Ahimelech 1S 21:2 My brother is king Alamelekh Allamelech Jos 19:25 E is king Molekh Moleck Jer 32:35 King or god Melekh Melech 1Ch 8:35 King Milkah Milcah Gen 11:29 ; Nu Queen 28 The verse in Nahum says, Nahum the Elkoshite, meaning Elkoshite was a place name. The name may be based on the root meaning hard, severe or fierce. It may be a reference to a god of Kush. 29 Molakh was the name a Canaanite god. The word became the Hebrew word for king. In Biblical times king was synonymous with God. This name could mean my father is God. See Lev 18:21, Jer. 32:35. 30 Adar is the name of Babylonian god. This name could also mean God is King. page 25 26:33 Malkiel Malchiel Nu 26:45 ; 1Ch7:31 My king is E Malkiyahu Malchiah Jer 21:1 My king is Y Malkiyahu Malchiah Jer 38:6 My king is Y - Malki-Tsedek Melchizedek Gen 14:18 My king is Tsedek (righteous) Malkirom Malchiram 1Ch 3:18 My king [Y] is high / - Malkishua Malchishua, Malchi-shua 1Sa 14:49 ; 1Ch 8:33 My king [Y] is opulence Milkom Milcom 1Ki 11:5 (Name of Ammonite god.) Malkom Malcam 1Ch 8:9 Toward the king Milikhi Melicu Ne 12:14 King-like Molekhet Mahlah 1Ch 7:18 Royal? - Natan-melekh Natan-melech 2Ki 23:11 He gave the king or gift of Y? Anamelekh Anamelech 2Ki 17:37 Humble king? Table 7 Compound Names with Prefix Names that suggest the idea that God is the master. Names / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning - Adoni-Bezek Adoni-bezek Jud 1:7 Lord of Bezek31 or Lord of lightning Adoniyahu Adonijah 1Ki 1:5; 1Ch 3:2 My Lord is Y / Adonikam Adonikam Ez 2:13 My Lord has arisen / Adoniram / Adoram Adoniram 1Ki 4:6; 2Sa 20:24 My Lord is exalted 32 Hadorom Aram 1Ki 12:18 My Lord is exalted - Adoni-tsedek Adoni-zedek Jos 10:1 Lord of righteousness; my Lord is righteous The above names are in the first name category, compound names with a form of God's name or connected to God. The list is close to a comprehensive list. Below are names containing which could be a code word suggesting the kinship characteristic of God. Table 8 Names containing Names / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning / Ahimelekh / Avimelekh Abimelech 1Ch 18:16 My brother is king (God) / Ahab Ahab 1Ki 16:28 Fathers brother 31 Bezek is a Canaanite place time. The word seems to mean lightning. 32 This name is a corruption, contraction, or variant of the previous name. page 26 Names / alternate form Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning Ahban Ahban 1Ch 2:29 Brother of an intellectual one Ahumai Ahumai 1Ch 4:2 Brother [ ] ? Ahiam Ahiam 2Sa 23:33 My brothers mother Ahihud Ahihud Nu 34:27 Brother of majesty Ahyo Ahio 2Sa 6:3 Fraternal Ahihud Ahuhud 1Ch 8:7 Brother is one? / Ahiyahu Ahijah 1Sa 14:3; 2Ch 10:15 Brother of Y Ahitov Ahitub 1Sa 14:3; 1Ch5:34 My brother is goodness Ahilud Ahilud 2Sa 8:16 Brother of Lud? Ahimot Ahimoth 1Ch 6:10 Brother of Mot?33 Ahimaats Ahimaaz 1Sa 14:50 My brother is wrath Ahyan Ahian 1Ch 7:19 Fraternal Ahinadav Ahinadab 1Ki 4:14 My brother is noble Ahinoam Ahinoam 1Sa 25:43 My brother is a delight Ahisamakh Ahisamach Ex 31:6 My brother has supported Ahiezer Ahiezer Nu 1:12 My brother is a help Ahikam Ahikam 2Ki 22:12 My brother has arisen / / Ahirah / Ahi / Ahiram Ahiram Nu 26:38 ; Gn 46:21 Brother of the lofty Hiram Hiram 2Sa 5:11 Diminutive of Ahiram Ahishahar Ahishahar 1Ch 7:10 Brother of the dawn Ahishar Ahishar 1Ki 4:6 My brother sang Ahitofel Ahithophel 2Sa 15:12 My brother is folloy? Ahlav Ahlab Jud 1:31 I will whiten or my brother is heart? Ahlai Ahlai 1Ch 2:31 O would that Ahasibai Ahasbai 2Sa 23:34 Meaning unknown; text may be corrupt Yoah Joha 1Ch 11:45 Meaning unknown. May mean My brother is Y. Table 9 Names in the Tanakh (non-theophoric) Contemporary people use these names. Some of these names are not used as personal names in the Tanakh, but are used by people today. Some of the names may be used as personal names and family names. This list is not a comprehensive list or a complete list of all the names found in the Tanakh. These names are chosen because of literary warrant (i.e. they are from the author or subject of a book found in library catalogs) or from my lists of names of contemporary or deceased people. The library records are from a sampling of over 25,000 items. My personal records contain over 21,000 names. Many names in the Tanakh, may be used, but not have not hit my radar. Other names are just not uses today. Modern Israelis are reviving some names that were in disuse for hundreds of years. 33 Mot is the name of a Canaanite god. page 27 Names [in Tanakh, non-theophoric] Transliteration English form in JPS Bible /alternative English forms Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning Classifi-cation34 Avi Avi, my father / Avivi 2Ki 18:2; Dan 5:13 My father [could also be a short for of Avraham] In 2Ki the name is for a woman 6 , Avigdor father of Gedor 1Ch 4:4; 4:18 My father is a wall? In contemporary usage this is one name. Avihayil Abihail / Avi-Chai, Avi-hai Nu 3:35 My father lives 3, 6 Avital Abital 2Sa 3:4 My father is the dew 3,4 Avinoam Avinoam Jud 4:6 My father is delight 3,4 Aviezer Abiezer 1Ch 7:18 My father is help 3,4 Aviram Abiram / Aviram Ps 106:17 [the] Exalted One is my father 1, 6 Avishur Avishar 1Ch 2:29 My father is a wall 3 Aven 2Ki 18:2 Stone 4 / Eben Ezer / Eben ha-Ezer Eben-ezer 1Sa 7:12 Stone of help 7 / Avner / Aviner Abiner, Abner / Avner 1Sa 14:50; 1Ki 2:32 My father is a lamp 3 / Avraham Abraham / Avrum; Avrom;Avrahm Avram; AvrohomGen 11:26; 12:4 Father of many 2 Avhalom Absalom 2Sa 3:3; 1Ki 1:6 Father of peace 2 Adam Adam Gn 4:25; 1Ch1:1 Man 2 Addan Addan Ez 2:59 ; Neh 7:61 Firm, strong 2 Addar Addar Est 3:7; 9:15; 1Ch 8:3 Noble? 2 Ahalah Oholah Ez 23:4 she who has a tent 2 Ohaliba Oholibah Ez 23:4 tent in her heart 2 Aharon Aaron / Aaroni; Aron Ex 4:14; Nu 25:11 Likely of unknown Egyptian origin. Others suggest a 2,4 34 1. Compound names with God's name or connected to God (These names are in the previous tables.) 2. Names describing the characteristics of a person. 3. Names influenced by the experiences of the parents. 4. Names from nature (including animals, plants, sounds, and events) 5. Conditions or experiences of mankind or the nation. 6. Names which express hope for the future or a desired condition. 7. Names based on places or geography. page 28 Names [in Tanakh, Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Classifi-cation34 non-theophoric] /alternative English forms Tanakh Hebrew derivation, meaning high mountain" or "exalted". Ehud Ehud 1Ch 8:6 Union 5 Iyov Job Job 1:1 Meaning unknown. Perhaps meaning is persecuted ? ? Elat Elath 2Ki 14:22 ? 7 Etan Ethan 1Ch 2:8; 1Ki 5:11 I will give 3 / Alon Elon Gn 46:14; Jud 12:11 Oak tree 4 Emunah Emunah Ps 37:3; Pr 12:22 faith, belief 2 / Amnon Amnon 2Sa 3:2 Faithful 2 Enosh Man Job 15:14 Man, mankind 2 Asaf Asaph Ez 2:41; Neh 7:44 Gatherer 2 Efrayim Ephraim / Efraim; Efrayim; Efroim; Efron; Gn 41:52; Jos 24:33 Make fruitful? 2 Aryeh Arieh 2Ki 15:25 Lion 4 , Oren Oren 1Ch 2:25 Fir tree 4 Eshkol Eshkol Gn 14:13 Cluster 4 Asher Asher Gn 30:13 Happy 2 Bier Beer Nu 21:16 Pit 4 Bilhah Gn 29:29; 1Ch 7:13 Bashful 2 Ben Ben 1Ch 15:18 Son 2,5 - Ben-hanan Ben-hanan 1Ch 4:20 Son of graciousness 2,3 Benyamin Benjamin Gn 35:18; 1Sa 4:12 Son of [the] right hand 2,3 - Ben-ami Ben-ammi Gn 19:38 Son of my [paternal] relative 5 Boaz Boaz Ru 2:1; 1Ch2:11 Quickness? 2 Barukh Baruch / Baruk Jer 32:12 Blessing 2 Barzulai Barzillai 2Sa 19:34; 2Ki 2:7 Man of iron 2, 4 Barak Barak Jud 4:8; 5:1 Lightning 4 Bashan Bashan De 32:14; Ps 68:16 Smooth and fertile land 4, 7 Batsheva Bathsheba 2Sa 11:3; 1Ki 2:18 daughter of the oath 3 Gad Gad Gn 30:11; Jos Fortune 2 page 29 Names [in Tanakh, Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Classifi-cation34 non-theophoric] /alternative English forms Tanakh 21:36 Gadi Gadi 2Ki 15:14 My fortune 2 Gidon Gidean Jud 6:13 One who cuts down? 2 Gera Gera Gn 46:21; 1Ki 2:8 The sojourner 2 Gershon Gershon Gn 46:11 Exile 2 / Gershom Gershom 1Ch 6:1 Exile 2 / Divorah Deborah / Devorah; Debra; Dvorah; Devora; Dvora Jud 4:5 Bee 4 Daveed David / Duvid; Dave 1Sa 16:13; Ps 54:2 Beloved one 2 Dinah Dinah Gn 30:21 She judged 2 Dan Dan Gn 14:14; Jos 19:40 Judge 2,3 Donah Dannah Jos 15:49 [this is a corrupt form of Dinah] 2 / Dotan / Dotayin Dothan Gn 37:17; 2Ki 6:13 Degree 7 Ha-levi the Levite Ex 4:14; Jub17:10 [unknown] ? Hillel Hillel Jud 12:13 He has praised 3 Harel height of the alter Ezk 43:1535 Mountain of E 1,4 Hareri Hararite 2Sa 23:11; 1Ch 11:34 Of the mountain, mountain dweller 4 Zeev Zeeb / Zeev, Zev, Zebi, Ju 7:25; Ps 83:12 wolf 4 , Zevulun Zebulun / Zebulaun Gn 49:13; Ju 5:18 exalt, honor 2 Zahava not in feminine of . Gold or golden 2 Havah Eve Gn 3:20 Life, mother of all life Hanah Hannah 1Sa 1:2 Grace, charm 2 Hanokh Enoch Gn 4:17 dedicated 2 Hanan Hanan Jer 35:4; 1Ch 11:43 Gracious 2 Yivliam Ibleam Jos 17:11; 2Ki 9:27 Produce of the nation? 5 Yavneh 2Ch 26:6 be built 5 Yigal Igal Nu 13:7 he redeems 2 35 This name is found in the form in Eziekiel 43:15. Harel is the form without a prefix. It is a modern Hebrew name. page 30 Names [in Tanakh, Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Classifi-cation34 non-theophoric] /alternative English forms Tanakh Yigal Yigael 2Sa23:36; 1Ch 3:22 he redeems 2 Yehudah Judah Gn 29:35; Jud 1:2 Praised, object of praise? 2 Yehudit Judith 2Ch 32:18 Woman of Judea 7 Yonah Jonah Dove 4 Yemini Jaminites Nu 26:12 The word itself means: right hand. In context it means family of Benjamin.4, 5 Yaakov Jacob / Ya'akov; Yaacov Gn 25:26; Jos 24:4 Closely following [i.e. connected to heel] 3 Yaakobah Jaakobah 1Ch 4:36 Fem. of Yaakov 3 Yael Jael Ju 4:17 mountain goat 4 Yaari Yaari 2Sa 21:19 wood, forest? 4 Yitzhak Isaac / Itzhak; Itzhoc; Izak; Izhak; Yitsak; Yitschak; Yitshak; Yitzchak; Yitzchok; Yitzhak Yitzhaq Gn 17:19 He laughed 3 Yikdiam Jokdeam Jos 15:56 Nation of burning (i.e. alter) 5 Yikamam / Yakmiam Jekameam 1Ch 24:23 ; 1Ch 6:53 Nation will rise 5 Yakniam Jokneam Jos 12:22 nation will acquire 5 Yaravam Jeroboam 1Ki 11:26; 2Ch 10:2 the people increases 5 Yarhai month Jb 7:3 calendar month 4 Yashavam 5 Yeshurun Jeshurun Dt 32:15; Is 44:2 upright one 2 / Yeshai Jesse 1Sa16:1; Rut 4:17 [meaning uncertain. Perhaps conjunction of (we have E) or short form of (manly)] 2,3 Yashar , Yesher Jesher / Yashar, Yoshar, Yoshor 1Ch2:18 uprightness 2 Yisharah Yeshara 1Ki 3:6 uprightness 2 Yisakhar Issachar Gn 30:18 ; 1Ch12:32 [meaning uncertain. 5, 6 page 31 Names [in Tanakh, Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Classifi-cation34 non-theophoric] /alternative English forms Tanakh Perhaps conjunction of there is recompense] Yissakhar Yissocher Gn 30:18; Nu 10:15 hireling 2 Yitriam Ithream 2Sa 3:5; 1Ch 3:3 abundance of the nation 5 Carmi Carmi Gn 46:9; 1Ch 5:3 From Carmel 7 Carmel Carmel Jos 15:55 Plantation, garden land 4 Layah Leah Gn 29:16; 49:31 May mean weary, mistress or ruler? 2 Lot Lot Gn 11:27 Levi Levi Gn 29:34 [unknown] ? / Mikhah Mica 1Ch 5:5l Neh 10:12 Who is like Y? [Short form of ] 1 Mikhal Michal 1Sa 14:49; 1Ch 15:29 [short form and fem. of ] Who is like E 1 Makhon place Ex 15:17; 2Ch 6:2 Established place 7 Milkah / Malka Milcah Gn 11:29; Nu 26:33 Queen? 2,3 / Minuhah Menuhah Jud 20:43 Resting place Minhem Menachem 2Ki 15:14 Comforter 2 Minasheh Manasseh Gn 41:51 Strange? 2 Merom Merom Jos 11:5 From the heights? [Merom is a place name in northern Canaan] 7 Miron Not in Tanakh Variant of , the northern capital of Israel. Means belonging to Shemer clan. 7 Mishulam Meshullan 2Ki 22:3; 1Ch9:12 Maker of peace? 2 Negev Negev Ex 27:9 ;Dan 8:9 Dry, parched, south country. In Tanakh used for a place name or south. 4,7 Nogah Nogah 1Ch 3:7 Shine, be joyful 2 Noah Noah Gn 5:29; Ez 14:14 Rest 2 Nahum Nehum Neh 7:7 Comfort 2 page 32 Names [in Tanakh, Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Classifi-cation34 non-theophoric] /alternative English forms Tanakh Nahum Nahum Na 1:1 Comfort 1 Nahamani Nahamani Neh 7:7 Compassionate 2 Nahshon Nahshon Ex 6:23; Ru 4:20 Serpent, viper? 4 Noam Noam Ps 27:4 ; Ze 11:7 Delightfulness 2 Naam Naam 1Ch 4:15 Pleasant, delightful 2 Naamah Naamah 1Ki 14:21; 2Ch 12:13 Pleasant, delightful (f.) 2 Naftali Naphtali Gn 30:8; Jud 4:6 My wrestling, perhaps an earlier meaning was crafty or cunning one. 2, 3 Narot Ner 1Sa 14:50 [This form is not in Tanakh. Name is plural of ] Meaning light or candle. 4 Nitivah a path Is 43:16; Pr 12:28 Traveler (fem.) 2 Natan Nathan 2Sa7:2; 1Ch17:15 He gave [Also short for Natanel] 2 Sinai Sinai Ex 16:1; Nu 1:19 ? [Place where Torah was given] ? / Ovad Ovad Ru 4:17; 1Ch 2:12 Worshipper 5 Eglon Eglon Jos 10:3 Rounded person 2 Oded Oded 2Ch 28:9 Restorer 2 Adin Adin Ez 2:15; Neh 7:20 Gracious, noble 2 / Adinah Adina36 1Ch 11:42 Gracious, noble (f) 2 Utz Uz Gn 10:23; 1Ch 1:17 Plan? 2,7 Orakh This exact form is not in Tanakh One who makes an order 2 , Azah powerful Nu 13:28; Ju 14:18 strong, bright (fem. form of ) 4 Ezer Ezer Neh 12:42; 1Ch 12:9 Helper 2 Ezra Ezra Ez 7:1 Helper 2 Ezri Ezri 1Ch 27:26 My help 2 Amos Amos Am 1:1 Load 2 Amihud Ammihud 2Sa 13:37 My kinsman is majestic (or unique) 1, 5 36 In 1Chronicles 11:42 this name is masculine. In modern usage the name is feminine. page 33 Names [in Tanakh, Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Classifi-cation34 non-theophoric] /alternative English forms Tanakh Aminadav Aminadab Ex 6:23; 1Ch 6:7 My kinsman is noble 5 Amishadai Ammishaddai Nu 1:12 My kinsman is Shaddai (God) 1, 5 Amram Amram Ex 6:18 My kinsman is high 5 Anat Anath Jud 3:31 Answer 2 Efer Epher Gn 25:4 stag, young hart 4 Pase-ah Paseah Neh 3:6; 1Ch 4:12 One who limps 2 Peretz breach Gn 38:29; 1Ch 27:3 Outburst of water 4 Porat fruitful bough Gn 49:22 Bear fruit 2,4 / Tsadok Tsadok 1Ki 1:26; 1Ch 18:16 just, righteous 6 Tsiyon Tsiyon, Zion 2Sa 5:7; 2 Ch 5:2 parched ground? 4 Tsameret Tsameret Ez 17:3 tree-top 4 Tsaar humbled / Zaar Je 30:19 be or grow insignificant 2 Tsiporah Zipporah / Tziporah Ex 2:21 ; 4:25 bird 4 Riuven Reuvan Gn 29:32; 1Ch6:33 Behold, a son 3 Rivkah Rebekah Gn 22:23; 29:12 Tie, fasten, a snare? ? Rihavam Rehoboam 1Ki 11:43; 2Ch 10:1 Wide, broad nation (word play on ) 5 Rahel Rachel Gn 29:6; 1Sa 10:2 Ewe 4 Ramah Ramah Ho 5:8; 1Ki 15:17 height, high place 4, 7 Rinnah Rinnah 1Ch 4:20 Ringing cry (i.e. sing) 4 Rut Ruth Ru 1:4 Shaul Saul 1Sa 9:2; Ps 18:1 Asked of [Y] 1 Shabbat Sabbath Ex 16:25; 1Ch 9:32 Rest 5 Shoshanah lily 2Ch 4:5 Usually means lily, but can also mean any delicate flower. Today it is a rose. 4 Shahor blackened Jb 30:30 Black 4 Shahat Shochet; Shohat; Shohet Lv 3:2; Jud 12:6 Slaughter 2 page 34 Names [in Tanakh, Transliteration English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Classifi-cation34 non-theophoric] /alternative English forms Tanakh / Shiloh Shiloah Gn 49:10; 1Sa 4:4 That which belongs to him? Place name in Tanakh. 6 Shalom well / Sholem; Sholom Gn 29:6; Jer 13:19 Completeness, peace. Could be short for Abshalom. 4 Shelomoh Solomon / Shelmoh; Shelomo; Shlomo 2Sa 12:24; 2Ch1:1 Completeness, peace [perhaps contraction of peace with Y?] 1, 4 Shimon Shim'on; Shimon; Simion Gn 29:33; 1Ch 6:50 Listening? 2 Shomron Shomron 1Ki 16:24 Watched one? Name of capital of Northern Israel 2 Shemash sun Gn 37:9; Jud 20:43 Sun, toward sun rise (east). Shamash was the name of the Babylonia sun god 4 Shimson Samson Jud 16:6 Of the sun? 4 Shimshon Samson / Shimshon Jud 13:24 Of the sun? 4 Shifrah Shiphrah Ex 1:15 clearness of the sky 4 Sarah Sarah Gn 17:15; princess 2 Sarai Sarai Gn 11:29 princess 2 Shait Seth Gn 4:25 placed or appointed 2 Tal Tal Jos 8:28 Mound or heap 4 Talmai Talmi 2Sa 3:3; 2Ch 3:2 ? ? Tamar Tamar Gn 38:6; Ez 47:19 Date-palm 4 Tamorah Tamera 1Ki 6:29; 2Ch 3:5 Date-palm figure 4 Table 10 Names from Biblical words but not used as personal names in the Tanakh page 35 Names [from Biblical words] Transliteration English in JPS Bible /alternative English forms Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning Class-ification37 Ahuvah loved Dt 21:15 love Orah Orah Ps 139:12 Evening light 4 Elan tree Dan 4:8 Terebinth tree 4 Elana tree Dan 4:8 Terebinth tree (fem. form of Elan) 4 Elat Elath 2Ki 14:22 ? 7 Giulah Geulah Lv 25:25 redemption 6 Gur lions whelp Gn 49:9 Lion cub 4 Gil joy Ps 21:2; 13:5 joy 4 Gilah joy Is 65:18 rejoice Geffen vine / Giffin, Gefen, Gafni Gn 40:10; Nu 6:4 [grape] vine 4 Dror solidified Ex 30:23; Is 61:1 flowing, liberty (mod. Heb. Freedom) 2, 4 Hadarah Hadarah 1Ch 16:29;; Ps 29:2 splendid 2,6 Hapardes kings park Neh 2:8 Orchard 4 Har Har Dt 33:19; Jer 16:16 Mountain 4 Zavel exalt me Gn 30:20; 1Ki 8:13 exalt, honor? 2 Zahava not in fem. of . Gold or golden 2 , Zohar Ez 8:2 shining, brightness, glow 4 , Zifron, Zifroni Ziphron Nu 34:9 Form in Tanakh is It is a place on the northern boundary of Canaan. Meaning is unknown. 7 Zarah cast away Is 30:22; Nu 17:2 scatter, disperse (or it could be a variant of Sarah) 4 37 1. Compound names with God's name or connected to God (These names are in the previous tables.) 2. Names describing the characteristics of a person. 3. Names influenced by the experiences of the parents. 4. Names from nature (including animals, plants, sounds, and events) 5. Conditions or experiences of mankind or the nation. 6. Names which express hope for the future or a desired condition. 7. Names based on places or geography. A word in the Tanakh but it is not used as a name. It is a modern Hebrew name. page 36 Names [from Biblical Transliteration English in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Class-ification37 words] /alternative English forms Tanakh Hovav lover De 33:3 beloved 2 Hayah living thing Gn 8:17 living creature, animal 4 Hayim life / Hayym, Chaim, Haim, Chayym, HymanGn 2:9; Pr 10 :11 life 6 Haninah mercy Je 16:13 favor, mercy 6 Tov good / Tob; Tovi Gn 6:2; Pr 15:23 good 6 Tovah Tova Es 8:5 good 6 Tal dew Gn 27:28; Dt 33:13 dew 4 Yuval stream Je 17:8 stream 4 Yair awaken Is 50:4 He will awaken 6 Yael mountain goat/ Yael Ju 4:17 mountain goat 4 Yaffa beautiful 2Sa 14:25; Shi 1:16 beautiful 2 Yarhai month Jb 7:3 calendar month 4 Yitron value Ec 1:3 advantage, profit 5 5 Kohen Priest Gn 14:18; Lev 1:9 priest 2,3 Lev Lev Ps 147:3; Is 57:16 heart, conscience (Yiddish equivalent, Laib mean lion.) The English could also be diminutive of Levi. 4 Makhon place Ex 15:17; 2Ch 6:2 Established place 7 Minuhah security Gn 49:15; 2Sa 14:17 rest, resting place 2 Mashi-ah anointed one Lv 4:3; Ps 105:15 anointed 2 Navah lovely Jer 6:2 Desirable, beautiful 2 Nehamah comfort Ps 119:50; Jb 6:10 Comfort 2 Niv fruit Is 57:19 Fruit 4 Nir plowing Ho 10:12; Je 4:3 break up ground (in modern Hebrew : furrow) 4 Noam beauty of the Lord Ps 27:4; 90:17 loveliness, charm 2 page 37 Names [from Biblical Transliteration English in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Class-ification37 words] /alternative English forms Tanakh Naimah Neimah Prr 22:18; 2Sa 23:1 (masc. form ) pleasant 2 Naamon delightful Is 17:10 pleasantness 2 Nitsivah Nitzhiyah 1Ki 4:19; 1Sa 13:3 pillar, post (also a place name in Judea) 2,7 Nitivah a path Is 43:16; Pr 12:28 traveler (fem.) 2 Uri awake / Uri Ju 5:15 awake, arouse 6 Omer Sheaf Lv 23:11; Ru 2:17 sheaf 4 Ofer gazelle Shir 4:5 stag, young hart [Modern Hebrew: young deer, hansome lad] 4 Pesah passover sacrifice Ex 12:27; Ex 34:25 pass over, festival of Passover 5 Sigulah Segulah Ex 19:5; Ecc 2:8 valued property, treasure 4 Tsvi gazelle / Tzvi, Zvi, Zwi, Zwy 2Sa 2:18;Pr 6:5 gazelle, deer 4 Tsviah gazelle / Tziviah gazelle, deer 4 Tsedakah righteousness Gn 15:6; 1Ki 10:9 righteousness 6 Tsur rock / Tzur 2Sa 22:3 ; Is 2:10 rock, cliff 4 Tsim ship / Zim Nu 24:24; Ez 30:9 majestic ship 4 Tsirah envoy / Zeirah Je 49:14; Pr13 This fem. form of does not appear in the Tanakh. Means: envoy or messenger 2 Tsemah vegetation/ Zemach, Zemah Gn 19:25; Ho 8:7 vegetation, [plant] growth 4 Tsamir wool Is 1:18; Pr 31:13 wool 4 Tsmeret full plumage / Tzameret Ez 17:3 wooly appearance? 4 Tsaar humbled / Zaar Je 30:19 be or grow insignificant 2 / Kodesh holy Ex 19:6; Ps 99:3 holy 2,3 page 38 Names [from Biblical Transliteration English in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Meaning Class-ification37 words] /alternative English forms Tanakh Keren horn Is 5:1 horn (There is second meaning to this word that is not in the Tanakh.) 4 Rivkah Rebekah Gn 22:23; 29:12 Tie, fasten, a snare? ? Ron joyous shouts Ps 32:7 sing 4 Ranan sing out joyously Pr 29:6; Is 12:6 Give a ringing cry 4 Rinnah Rananah Jb 3:7; Ps 100:2 ringing cry, sing 4 Shevah seven Gn 41:2 Seven 4 Shazar twisted Ex 26:1 Twist, interweave 4 Shahar break of day 1Sa 9:26 dawn 4 Shir song Ex 15:1; Is 42:10 sing 2 Shirah song Ex 15:1; 2Sa 22:1 sing 2 Shalom well / Sholem; Sholom Gn 29:6; Jer 13:19 Completeness, peace Could be short for Abshalom. 4 Shomron Shomron 1Ki 16:24 Watched one? Name of capital of Northern Israel 2 Shemash sun Gn 37:9; Jud 20:43 Sun, toward sun rise (east). Shamash was the name of the Babylonia sun god 4 Shaar gate Gn 22:17; Jer 31:40 Gate 4 Shaked almond tree Jer 1:11 almond (-tree) 4 Sar chief Gn 21:22; 1Ch 15:22 Chief, ruler, official 2 Tehilah prayer / Tehila Ps 145:1 Prayer 6 Tel Tel Jos 8:28 Mound or heap 4, 7 Table 11 Names adopted from other languages which are now considered Hebrew names page 39 Names Translitera-tion English form in JPS Bible Sample Sources in Tanakh Meaning Class-ification38 Mordekhai Mordecai Est 2:5 [from the Persian. Perhaps name means Man of Marduk] 1 Moshe Moses Ex 2:10; Jos 1:14; 1Sa 12:8; Ps 103:23; 2Ch 35:12 [This is one of the most difficult names to explain. For full explanation see Ogden Goelet (2003). Perhaps meaning is child of Ramses or Ra fashioned him] 1,3 / Nehunyah not in Y has graced or gifted 1 Nisan Nisan Other spellings: Nissan, Nison, Nisen Es 3:7 ; Neh 2:1 Name of 1st month. [Loan word from Babylonian. Related to Hebrew to start.] 4 Ester Esther Es 2:7 From Persian for star or from the pagan god Istar 4 / Pinhas Phinehas Ex 6:25; 1Sa 1:3 From Egyptian for the black man (negro) 2 Table 12 Summary counts Names that end in or 120 Names with endings 33 Names prefixed with or 33 Names ending with El 93 Compound names with prefix 5 Names beginning with 50 Compound names with 20 Names containing 28 Non-theophoric names 174 Names from Biblical words but not used as personal names in the Tanakh 82 Names adopted from other languages 5 38 1. Compound names with God's name or connected to God (These names may also in the previous tables.) 2. Names describing the characteristics of a person. 3. Names influenced by the experiences of the parents. 4. Names from nature (including animals, plants, sounds, and events) 5. Conditions or experiences of mankind or the nation. 6. Names which express hope for the future or a desired condition. 7. Names based on places or geography. page 40 Chapter 3 Post-Biblical Hebrew Names Names from Aramaic Masculine names Transliteration English spelling(s) Meaning Classification39 Abba Abba, Aba my father, daddy 3 Barkai Barkai morning star, announcement of dawn 4 Yosi Jose, Yosi probably a diminutive of Yosef Akiva Akiba, Akibah, Akiva heel, curve 4 Shammai Shammai diminutive of Shamayah Shraga Shraga Modern Hebrew Names These are contemporary Hebrew names that do not appear in the Tanakh as names. Some names are based on Hebrew words in the Tanakh. Some feminine names are derived from masculine names that have Biblical sources. The names were chosen from library catalogs and names from synagogue lists. This is not a complete or exhaustive list. Table 1 Masculine names Masculine names Transliteration English spelling(s) Meaning Classification1 Adiv Adiv courteous, polite 6 Orli Orly, Orli my light 4 Eyal Eyal stag (male deer) 4 39 1. Compound names with God's name or connected to God. 2. Names describing the characteristics of a person. 3. Names influenced by the experiences of the parents. 4. Names from nature (including animals, plants, sounds, and events) 5. Conditions or experiences of mankind or the nation. 6. Names which express hope for the future or a desired condition. 7. Names based on places or geography. page 41 Amir Amir tree-top 4 Ari Ari Diminutive of Aryeh meaning lion 4 Oren Oren, Oron pine tree 4 Artsi Artzi of the land 4 Gozal Gozal young bird, chickling 4 Gur Gur whelp, cub 4 Gili Gili my joy 6 Gal Gal wave 4 Daron Doron gift 3 - Dror-Li Dror-Li my freedom 2 Zora-ah Zorach [sun] shine, [sun] rise 4 Zidon Zidon something that boils or seethes 4 Yagil Yagil he will rejoice 2, 6 Ma-er Meir, Mayer, Mair shining 4 , Nitsan Nitzan flower bud [appears in Shir HaS 2:12 in the plural form] 4 Narkis Narkis narcissus 4 Alisa Alisa, Aliza joy, rejoicing 2 Amiram Amiram my people is loftly 5 Ronen Ronen singer 2 Table 2 Feminine names Feminine names Transliteration English spelling(s) Meaning Classification 1 Aviva Aviva, Avivah spring 4 Avivit Avivit lilac (flower) 4 Ornah Ornah pine tree 4 Orit Orit radium 4 Irit Irit, Iris daffodil 4 Eliorah Eliorah my E is light 1 Ashrat Oshrat fortunate (Related to meaning happy) 6 - Bat-Ami Bat-Ami daughter of my people 3 Galya Galia redemption (Aramaic) 6 Galyah Galiah wave 4 Dorit Dorit of this era (or generation) 5 Daliyah Daliah drawing water 4 , Daliyah, Dalit Dalit trailing vine 4 Dafnah Dafne laurel 4 Zivah Zivah radiant, brilliance 4 Talya Taliah lamb, young ( is the f i T kh)2, 4 page 42 Feminine names Transliteration English spelling(s) Meaning Classification 1form in Tanakh) Yoninah Yoninah little dove 4 Leorah Leorah light to me 2 Nurit Nurit buttercup, crowfoot (flower) 4 Nili Nily, Nili Based on acronym for: (the Everlasting of Israel will not lie 1Sa 15:29) This was a group of Jews who worked for Allied intelligence in Palestine during WWI in hope on ensuring the future of the Jewish settlements. 3 Sigliyah Sigliah violet (the flower) 4 Sivanah Sivanah of the month of Sivan ? Simonah Simonah sign, notation (could be fem. of Simon) 4 Ivriah Ivriyah Hebrew woman 2,3 Adi Adi my witness 3 Tsuriah Tzuriah Y is my rock(related to ) 1 Tsililah Tzelilah clear, musical tone 4 Keren Keren fund, capital Ronit Ronit little song 2, 4 Rimonah Rimonah pomegranate 4 Talmah Talmah she made a furrow 4 Temirah Temirah tall, erect 4 Chapter 4 Family Names Family names are not the same as last names. Family names () are recorded in the Tanakh. 40 is usually translated as clan. Genesis chapter 10 talks about the families of the sons of Noah. These sons were the primogenitors of several nations. These are the first clans. The twelve tribes from the sons of Jacob are clans. This is described in Exodus chapter 6. The second chapter of Ezra lists families that returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. A census of the number of men is included. The names are listed as the sons of then a given name for the clan. Ezra 2:68 Some of the chiefs (fathers) of the clans uses the word which is the same words as fathers. Indicating that these are hereditary clans. Last names are hereditary names from your parents and you pass them on to your children. Last names can be changed easily and indeed most married women do change their 40 For example: Num. 25:5 clan of the Enochites, clan of the Palluites. There are many other examples in chapter 25. Jud. 9:1 whole clan of his mothers family. Jud. 13:2 Zorah, of the stock of Dan. page 43 last names. One can not change the clan you are born into. People belong to at least two clans; one from each parent. At no time in the Tanakh are these clan names equated to last names. This study is mostly about first or given names, but mention of last names is included be